§ 65. Mr. MOUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 1s. 9d. is the amount at which the soldiers' rations are valued, but, notwithstanding, 1s. 7d. only in lieu of rations was offered to Territorial units to enable them to better celebrate Christmas with good cheer as required by orders issued; and will he state why rations were valued at 1s. 7d. on Christmas Day, while on all other days they are valued and paid for at the rate of 1s. 9d.?
Mr. BAKERI am not aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will furnish more precise details I will have inquiry made. I would, however, point out that the allowance in lieu of rations, namely, 1s. 9d., does not necessarily represent the cash value of the ration and that in certain circumstances the contract value is less. When troops are being rationed under contract, they would not be entitled as a matter of course to draw the full allowance in lieu of rations.